‘Gave him my number and never heard a word’ – Geoffrey Boycott reveals Harry Brook snubbed mentorship offer

Harry Brook (Source: Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

Geoffrey Boycott has revealed that he offered mentorship to Harry Brook after the batter’s uncle approached him at Headingley last year. Boycott said he was willing to help Brook improve his Test cricket approach, but the offer went unanswered.

He explained that Brook’s uncle asked whether he would speak to the young batter about his game. Boycott agreed and provided his contact details, expecting to hear back.

“His uncle came to me last year and he said, ‘Would you have a word with him?’ Well, he asked me what I thought of him. I told him exactly this. He said, ‘Really?’ I said, ‘Yeah.’ I said that much ability is rare, special,” Boycott said, speaking on the Geoffrey Boycott: An Extraordinary Innings podcast. “He said, ‘Would you have a word with him?’ I said, ‘It’s not for me to go to him. He might tell me to, you know, off.’ I said. But if he asked me, of course I’d help. Why would I not? I gave him my number and never heard a word,” said Boycott on the Geoffrey Boycott: An Extraordinary Innings podcast.

Boycott has been vocal about Brook’s exceptional talent but also critical of his Test match approach. Brook is ranked the world’s No. 1 Test batter but has not managed a century in Test cricket for over a year. Boycott highlighted specific instances where Brook’s shot selection cost him runs, including a score of 91 against Pakistan at Headingley followed by 15 in the second Test at Lord’s.

The former England opener believes Brook possesses rare ability that could elevate him to the level of cricket’s greatest batters if his thinking improves. Boycott has consistently praised Brook’s technical gifts while expressing concern about his tactical approach to the longest format.

“I’ve said before and I’ll say again, I’ve seen a lot of players. I haven’t seen anybody with the talent he’s got for a long time. Enormous talent. The timing, the shot playing, he’s tall, big reach, but his thinking is just unbelievable,” said Boycott.

Boycott’s assessment of Brook’s talent and approach

Boycott suggested that Brook’s current mindset limits his potential in Test cricket. He believes Brook plays the format with a white-ball approach, getting caught at mid-off and mid-on through aggressive shot selection rather than adapting his game to the demands of longer cricket.

“If he wants to carry on playing that way, he’ll have a decent career, but he has the ability, if he could think better, to be in the realms of Lara and Tendulkar. And, whoa, that’s a bit special,” Boycott said.

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